Contract Acquisition Costs Payable	12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2012
Contract Acquisition Costs Payable [Abstract]
Contract Acquisition Costs Payable	9. Contract Acquisition Costs Payable Pokagon Band – Four Winds Casino Resort The Company was obligated to an unrelated third party as part of an agreement associated with the Company obtaining the management contract with the Pokagon Band. As of January 2, 2011, the carrying amount of the liability was $0.7 million, net of a discount of $0.1 million. Due to the June 2011 Buy-Out Agreement with the Pokagon Band and terms in the agreement with the unrelated third party, the Company made a final payment of $0.4 million on the obligation. No additional amounts are owed under this obligation as of January 1, 2012. During 2006, the Lyle Berman Family Partnership (the “Partnership”) purchased a portion of the obligation discussed above from the unrelated third party. The Partnership received approximately $0.3 million per year of the payment stream related to this obligation. The Partnership received a final payment of $0.4 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2011 which represented the remaining obligation. Lyle Berman, Lakes’ Chief Executive Officer, does not have an ownership or any other beneficial interest in the Partnership. However, Neil I. Sell, a director of Lakes, is one of the trustees of the irrevocable trusts for the benefit of Lyle Berman’s children who are partners in the Partnership. Shingle Springs Tribe – Red Hawk Casino During 2009, the Company became obligated to pay Mr. Jerry Argovitz and Mr. Kevin Kean each $1 million per year (prorated based on a 365 day year) during the remainder of the seven-year initial term of the Red Hawk Casino management agreement, which commenced in December 2008. These obligations resulted from Mr. Argovitz’s and Mr. Kean’s elections under existing agreements with Lakes to relinquish their respective other rights related to the Red Hawk Casino project. As of January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011, the remaining carrying amount of the liability was $5.6 million and $6.5 million, net of a $2.3 million and $3.5 million discount, respectively. Amounts payable during the next 12 fiscal months totaling $1.1 million, net of related discount, are included in current contract acquisition costs payable as of January 1, 2012.

Contract Acquisition Costs Payable

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2012

Contract Acquisition Costs Payable [Abstract]

9. Contract Acquisition Costs Payable

Pokagon Band – Four Winds Casino Resort

The Company was obligated to an unrelated third party as part of an agreement associated with the Company obtaining the management contract with the Pokagon Band. As of January 2, 2011, the carrying amount of the liability was $0.7 million, net of a discount of $0.1 million. Due to the June 2011 Buy-Out Agreement with the Pokagon Band and terms in the agreement with the unrelated third party, the Company made a final payment of $0.4 million on the obligation. No additional amounts are owed under this obligation as of January 1, 2012.

During 2006, the Lyle Berman Family Partnership (the “Partnership”) purchased a portion of the obligation discussed above from the unrelated third party. The Partnership received approximately $0.3 million per year of the payment stream related to this obligation. The Partnership received a final payment of $0.4 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2011 which represented the remaining obligation. Lyle Berman, Lakes’ Chief Executive Officer, does not have an ownership or any other beneficial interest in the Partnership. However, Neil I. Sell, a director of Lakes, is one of the trustees of the irrevocable trusts for the benefit of Lyle Berman’s children who are partners in the Partnership.

Shingle Springs Tribe – Red Hawk Casino

During 2009, the Company became obligated to pay Mr. Jerry Argovitz and Mr. Kevin Kean each $1 million per year (prorated based on a 365 day year) during the remainder of the seven-year initial term of the Red Hawk Casino management agreement, which commenced in December 2008. These obligations resulted from Mr. Argovitz’s and Mr. Kean’s elections under existing agreements with Lakes to relinquish their respective other rights related to the Red Hawk Casino project. As of January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011, the remaining carrying amount of the liability was $5.6 million and $6.5 million, net of a $2.3 million and $3.5 million discount, respectively. Amounts payable during the next 12 fiscal months totaling $1.1 million, net of related discount, are included in current contract acquisition costs payable as of January 1, 2012.